AOF Activities & Events

Bias Revisited

In May the Table topic was social bias against atheists. It lit our nerves like lightning.

The moderator, UC Davis graduate sociologist Kathryn Panger, based her dissertation on this very bias, and she knew how to draw us out. As we learned, prejudice against the "unchurched" can be worse than a bang to the ulnar nerve on an inconvenient door jamb: it may means joblessness, family loss, difficulty finding a safe place to live, and daily harassment of non-religious children. It may mean bullying. It may mean lives at risk.

Unfortunately many had no chance to speak due to the unusually large turnout (35 people!) and the many gripping personal narratives. So here is another opportunity to get your story out. This time we also hope to discuss resources: where to find legal advice, where to get counseling by someone who has experienced this unpleasant bias, or simply how to connect to others who have been through the same vale of tears.

That's community. Being supportive, helping others.